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Topic: In-Character Events from the HRPT (Read 7842 times)

Unless you're buried in the sand, or never speak to anyone else, you would know a few things that have happened.

On the 5th day of the Ascending Sun, Year 27 of the 21st Age:In the months leading up to this day, rumors began to circulate of a Tuluki army on the loose somewhere in the east or south. Nothing was ever confirmed by anyone until this day, when an Allanaki army over two thousand strong assembled at the city-state's eastern gate and marched into the desert, heading east across the Salt Flats. Witnesses claim that a blue-robed templar was heard saying that Tuluk planned in invasion of Allanak and they were going to meet the Tuluki army in the desert to stop it. Citizens of Tuluk seem to know even less, however no one could miss a similarly-sized army of His Gloriousness' legions heading south from the city.

However, the two armies did not clash, but instead each has made camp at opposite ends of the Red Desert - both preparing for a prolonged engagement in the sands...

Reports of a fairly significant battle having taken place in the desert begin to surface. The tellings, as usual, differ from person to person, but the general consensus is that it resulted in a marginal Allanaki victory. There's even a few tales about a dead templar. Both sides have been reported to be well-entrenched and it's shaping up to what could be a rather extended war...

News spreads to the cities of the ongoing conflict in the Red Desert. It seems as if the Allanaki army moved its entire camp without warning, repositioning itself a bit closer to the Tuluki forces that have become even more deeply entrenched. The Tuluki army seems focused on its location, as if guarding the area from the Allanaki advances, but no common reason is given as to why or what they're defending.

In Allanak, one odd rumor begins to circulate from the mouth of an old historian (see IC boards there for details).

Reports make their way to both cities that another fairly significant battle took place in the desert. An Allanaki blue-robe was ambushed by Tuluki forces, and apparently slain. However, by that night, a magickal lightning storm struck the Tuluki camp, inflicting dozens of casualties...

The new year has brought strange news from the war front. Apparently the Tuluki camp has been stricken at least three times with powerful storms of thunder and lightning. The first was thought to be bad luck, but after the second and third it has become clear that Allanak has launched some sort of continuing magickal assault on the Tulukis. Reports vary from as little as no dead to as much as a hundred soldiers slain from these furious storms...

Not long after these storms were reported, it is spoken that a Tuluki force somehow drew an Allanaki force out of their camp, and ambushed them. As usual, the reports vary on the number of people killed, but in both cities the tale ends with a Tuluki victory and a blue-robe templar of Allanak slain...

An all-out assault apparently took place in the days preceeding with the Allanaki army en masse assaulting the Tuluki position. The battle lasted just over an entire day - the only lull in the fighting occuring when night fell and the moons were obscured by duststorms. Strange stories come back to the cities - some say that a beast made of fire was summoned against the Tulukis, others say that part of the Allanaki army was buried under a heap of boulders. What is commonly known, however, is that Allanak took considerable losses and was forced to withdraw.

However, in a bold move the Allanaki army turned north, and positioned itself between the Tuluki encampment and Tuluk itself, cutting off the Tulukis from their supply lines.

A siege of the Tuluki camp has gone on for a while now, and rumors begin to circulate in both cities as to how long the northern army can hold out. Some say that the Tulukis have already run out of food and water, and are eating each others bodies (such a rumor has been predominantly in Allanak) while others say the Tulukis can last for years (these seem to be favored in Tuluk).

A recent rumor spread through Tuluk of an Allanaki force assembled dangerously close to the city - putting the city on high alert. Troubled citizens of the Ivory worry about the significance, with one common disturbing thought dominating their minds: Is another invasion of Tuluk imminent?. Little to nothing of this rumor is spoken of in Allanak...

After almost two months of fighting, the Red Desert War has apparently come to an end. Both sides have claimed victory, the reasons and particulars dependent on which city they're told in.

In Allanak a tired, dirty army arrived late in the morning and Lord Malenthis Jal was heard giving a victory speech on Melenth's Circle. Only those who attended know what was said for certain, but the word spreading through the city is that the Tuluki army finally lost morale and broke rank, fleeing like cowards back to their city.

A different tale is told in Tuluk. Bards sings ballads about His Gloriousness' Army marching proudly back to Tuluk with Knigh Templar Radic, accompanied by High Templar Eunoli and Faithful Lady Felysia, at the head. Eunoli supposedly gave a speech in front of the Sanctuary, but only those who attended know what was said for certain. The common story told throughout the city, though, was that the Tuluki army soundly defeated the barbarians from the south, routing them on the field and sending them home with their tails between their legs.

In both cities, celebrations are being held and countless soldiers - veterans of the Red Desert War - get drunk and spin their stories in taverns for anyone who will listen.